Dakota Access equipment set ablaze

The Jasper County Sheriff’s office has recently announced that equipment that was being used by contractors for the construction of the Dakota Access pipeline has been intentionally set on fire in Iowa.

In total, three bulldozers and one excavator were set alight close to the location of where it is believed that equipment had previously been targeted on 1 August. While the suspected August arson caused damage of approximately US$1 million, this latest incident is expected to have caused approximately US$2 million, according to the Sherriff’s office.

In an statement, Dakota Access said: "[it has] experienced the intentional burning of construction equipment by unknown individuals. These illegal actions have resulted in millions of dollars in damage."

Both the Sherriff’s Office and the company that is responsible for the pipeline’s construction have called upon people who may have information to contact the authorities. Dakota Access is offering a US$100 000 reward for any tips that may lead to the arrest of those responsible.

The suspected arsons are proving that there is controversy surrounding the Dakota Access Pipeline project. It is just one of many setbacks the pipeline has faced in recent months.

The Standing Rock Sioux tribe, along with environmental activists, have been protesting against the construction of the 1100 mile (1886 km) pipeline in North Dakota for several months. They claim that the pipeline will threaten their water supply and destroy sacred sites.

The recent fire in Iowa came just days after activists against the use of fossil fuels shut down five pipelines on US territory that were used to supply tar sands oil from Alberta (Canada).

On 17 October, dozens of demonstrators gathered outside the Morton County Courthouse to, again, protest the Dakota Access pipeline and to support a journalist who was accused of rioting. The judge dropped the charges against Amy Goodman, a Democracy Now! Journalist.

One section of construction has been halted in North Dakota in response to the tribe's concerns while they are under federal review.